Suction cleaner



Nov. 27, 1951 L. E. SEGESMAN SUCTION CLEANER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Oct. 3, 1946 INVENTOR. Lauis E. Se gesman ATTORNEY.

Nov. 27, 195] E. SEGESMAN SUCTION CLEANER Filed Oct. 3, 1946 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 i atented Nov. 27, 1951 SUCTION CLEANER Louis E. Segesman, Canton, Ohio, assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application October 3, 1946, Serial No. 701,030

7 Claims. (Cl. 183-58) The present invention relates to suction cleaners in general and more particularly to a new and improved filter-cleaning mechanism in a suction cleaner.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved suction cleaner. Another object is to provide a new and improved filter-cleaning device in a suction cleaner. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through the cleaner constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the filtershaking mechanism disclosed in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the filter-shaking mechanism; and

Figure 4 is a top view of the filter-shaking mechanism shown in Figure 3.

The embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a casing l closed at its exhaust end by an end cap having an outlet port l2 adapted to receive the cleaner end of an unshown dusting tool hose which is provided at its opposite end'with a surface-cleaning tool in a manner well known in the art. The suction end of the casing is closed by a removable end cap l3 provided with an inlet port |4 adapted to receive the cleaner end of a dusting tool unit in the same manner as the outlet port l2. End cap 13 is removably attached to the casing ID by being provided at its lower end with a protruding lip l5 which seats within a pocket It formed at the end of a bracket I1 mounted on the bottom of the casing H]. An overcenter type latch I8 is mounted on the top of the casing l0 and cooperates with the end cap I3 to force it against the end wall or face IQ of the casing I0, and a seal prevents leakage of air therebetween.

Casing |0 is slidably supported upon longitudinally extended runners 2| terminating in the plane of the front end wall IQ of the casing l0, and which enable the operator to pull the machine over the supporting surface by means of the force exerted through the dusting tool hose. There is also provided along the top of the cleaner casing a carrying handle 22 and a switch 23.

Within the casing |0 near the exhaust end cap I is a motor 25 having a shaft 26 extending into a fan chamber 21 where it carries rotatable fans 28 separated by fixed guide vanes 29 mounted on the fan chamber. The fan chamber is formed with an intake port 30 and with exhaust ports 3|. The motor-fan unit is supported at its forward end by a resilient rubber ring 32 which lies around the forward edge of the fan chamber 21 and is supported by a fixed bulkhead 53 mounted in the casing I0 and provided with apertures 31. Supported upon the bulkhead 33 is a filter frame 34 having a plurality of apertures 35 and cooperates with a portion 35 of the bulkhead 33 to provide a chamber in which is disposed a filtering material 38 for filtering the air prior to passing it through the inlet 30 into the fan chamber 21. At its opposite end the motor-fan unit is carried by a'resilient ring 40 mounted in a perforated bulkhead 4| fixedly secured to the casing [0 by screwsv 42.

A dirt-filtering bag 44 is disposed between the motor-fan unit and the front end cap l3 and has an anular side wall 45 and a closed end wall 46, while the open end of the bag 44 is secured to a bag ring 41 disposed adjacent the front end Wall IQ of the casing I0, and an annular flange 48 on the end wall I9 defines the opening to the filter bag 44. The closed end 46 of the bag 44 is supported on a circular frame 50, and secured to the latter by means of a nut and bolt connection 5| is a substantially U-shaped bracket 52 having a bar 53 extending diametrically of the bag end wall 46 and terminating in forwardly extending arms 54 and 55 extending along the bag side wall 45.

A U-shaped lever has its arms 55 and 58 pivotally supported at their lower ends upon a rod 5| mounted in a frame 59 attached to the casing l0, and the upper ends of the arms 56 and 58 are respectively pivotally mounted on the bracket arms 55 and 54. A link 51 is pivotally connected to thebracket arm 54 and the frame 59. The pivoted link 51 and arm 58 are along one side of the bag and equal in length and have their pivot points at their opposite ends spaced equidistant so that as the link 51 and lever '60 pivot, the bracket 52, bag-supporting frame 50,

and bag end wall 45 will at all times remain parallel with the casing front wall l9 and the open end of the bag 44. Disposed about the pin 5| are a pair of torsion springs 52 having one of their ends resting upon the lever 60 and their opposite ends abutting lugs 63 onthe frame 59 to at all times urge the link 51, the arms 56 and 53, and the bag-supporting frame 52 rearwardly' within the casing II] to draw the bag 44 taut.

The filter-vibrating mechanism shown in Figures 1 and 2 is disposed centrally below the filter bag 44 along the bottom wall of the casing and comprises a Ug-shaped guide Hi having an inclined top wall II and side walls 'I2'I2 provided with a plurality of tabs 73 which are attached to the casing IIl. Formed in the top wall H is a slot 14 in which is movably disposed an engaging member 15 having a substantially vertical face 16 and an inclined face 11. The member is rigidly attached to a flattened portion I3 of a rod 19, the latter being slidably mounted at its front end in an opening provided in a wall 80 depending from the guide top wall II while the rear end of the rod I9 is slidably supported in a member BI attached to the casing iii. A handle 82 is attached to the rod 19 and is disposed in a recess 83 sealed from the interior of the casing by portions of the bulkhead 33 and filter frame 34, and the member 8|. A portion of the handle 82 projects through a slot' 84 in the casing I 8 for the operator to grasp the handle 82 and reciprocate the rod 19 and the member i5.

A U-shaped connecting member 85 has its opposite ends 86-86 pivotally connected to the lever arms 55 and 58 and has a center portion 81 adapted to abut the face It on the member I5 to collapse the bag at; A'torsion spring 88 is arranged about each pivoted end 35' of the member 85 and operates to at all times urge the center portion 81 of the member 85 into sliding engagement with inclined surfaces 89 89 disposed along opposite sides of the slot 14.

In normal cleaning operation of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the motor-fan unit draws dirt-laden air through a suitable dusting tool unit connected to the intake port I4 and into the filter bag :34; Filter 44 removes from the air stream the suspended foreign material and the clean air passes'outwardly through the walls of the bag and into the space defined by the surrounding'main casing I0. Before entering the fan chamber, the air first passes through the secondary filter 38 to remove any dirt particles which have escaped through the filter bag 45,. The cleaned aijr passes into the fan system at the intake 30 of the fanc'hamber 21 and is discharged through the exhaust ports 3| into the space within the casing I0 surrounding the motor 25. The air then passes through the perforations 96 in the bulkhead M'and' through the outlet [2 into the surrounding atmosphere. This operation can continue until such time as accumulation of foreign material Within the filter bag'M reduces the effective suction of the machine thereby reducing cleaner efficiency and making it desirable to remove the foreign material from the bag.

The bag-cleaning operation comprises initially removing the end cap I3 by manipulating the latch I8 to expose the flat end wall I 9 of the casing I0 and the opening 48 to the filter bag 44. The cleaner is then 'up-ended into filter-cleaning position so that the end plate I9 lies flush upon a supporting surface which is preferably procasing front end wall I9'in the slot. Movement of the member causes the center portion 81 of the member 85 to slide along the inclined surfaces 89-89 and eifects pivotal movement of the bag-supporting arms 56, 51', and 58 tit-wet attached to the bag bracket 52. Movement of the members I5 and 85 causes the rear end wall 46 of the bag to be collapsed towards the front end of the cleaner casing against the force exerted by the torsion springs 5262, and due to the arrangement of the arms 51 and 58 the rear end wall 56 of the bag is shifted in planes which are parallel to the front end wall IQ of the cleaner casing and thereby collapses bag a l. Upon continued movement of the member I5 within the slot I4, the portion 81 of the yoke 85 moves along the upwardly inclined surfaces 8989 until the top of the face 18 of the member i5 rides beneath the inclined surfaces 89-439 whereupon the member 85 is disengaged from the member and permits the springs 62-52 to jerk bag frame 50 and the end 56 of the bag back to their original positions in which the bag is taut. This abrupt vibration of the bag effects the dislocation of adhering foreign material which thereupon falls downwardly through the central aperture 48 of the casing end wall I9 to come to rest upon the underlying supporting surface or the paperplaced thereupon to receive the dislodged dirt.

After the bag has returned: to its normal taut condition, the operator exerts an upward force on the handle 82 to move the rod 19 and the member 75, and toward the endof this movement the inclined face T? of the member i5- contacts portion 81 of the yoke and the latter slips along the face I7 until it rides thereover into engagement with the face it of the member 15 to place the filter-cleaning mechanism in position for another bag-cleaning operation.

After the bag has been adequately cleaned, the operator need only tilt the machine back to its horizontal position, replace the cover I3, and the machine is again ready for performing its nor-* anism disclosed in Figures 3 and 4' is arranged in the, cleaner casing It with respect to the filter bag 4!; in the same manner as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and comprises a bag shaker base 9'5 on which the link 51 and the arms 56 and 58 of the lever 50 are 'pivotally mounted to support the rear end of the bag 4 Centrally disposed on the. base below the. bag 44, is a guide 96 pro-v vid'ed with a tap-wan 9 8 and sidewalls 99-415 having angular feet. M which are attached to the framed? by a plurality of rivets I135. Formed in the top wall-"98 is a releasing member 1 ill hav-' ing an inclined face [02, and adjacent the latter is a slot Hi3, formed in the top wall 98 for movably receiving an engaging member Hi4 having a substantially verticalfac'e H15 and an inclined face I06}. and the engaging member I'M is rigid' 1y attached to, a rod I08, the latter being sl'idably' mounted in the guide end wall, i 22 and the member I'II! attached to 'the'bottom wall of the cleaner casing III. A handle H I is attached to the rod IIiSand is disposed in a recess I 52' sealed from the interior portion cfj'the casing by the member IIii; A portion ofth'e handle Ii'I projects through a slot II2j in the. casing, It! for the operator to grasp the handle I I I' and reciprocate the rod. I98 and the engaging member EM.

A U-shaped connecting member II3 has its opposite ends I'M pivotally connected to the lever arms 55' and 58' and has acente'r portion H5 on which is rotatably mounted spaced rollers II'I' A portion I29 of the connecting member II3'is disposed between the spaced rollers IIT" and is adapted to abut the face I05 of the engaging member I04. A torsion spring 88 is arranged about each end H4 of the connecting member I I3 and operates to at all times. urge the rollers I I1 into engagement with the surfaces I I6 and to maintain the portion I20 of the connecting member H3 in engagement with the face I05 of the engaging member IM. A spring I2I is arranged about the rod its interiorly of the guide 96 between a bracket I09 forming part of the engaging member IN and the end wall I22 and functions to return the push; rod I08, the engaging member lil i, and the handle III to their normal positions shown inFigure 3.

In operating this embodiment of the invention, the cleaner performs its normal cleaning function as previously described, and when it is desired to dislodge the foreign material from the bag M the cleaner casing is up-ended into bagshaking position in the same manner as described in connection with Figures 1 and 2.

To dislodge the foreign material from the bag, the operator grasps the handle I II and pushes it downwardly towards the casing front wall I3 causing the rod I68 and the engaging member IN, to move downwardly in the guide 96. Downward movement of the engaging member ID I causes the rollers I IT to move along the surfaces I I6l It, the portion I20 of the connecting member H 3 and the rear end 43 of the bag to move towards the front end of the cleaner casing with the result that the bag :24 is collapsed. Upon continued downward movement of the handle III, the rollers Ill come in contact with the inclined surface I82 of the releasing member IIII, and the rollers I I? move up the inclined surface I02 until they ride over the top of the member I04 to disengage the yoke portion I20 from the face I65 to permit the torsion springs 62 to jerk the bag frame 50 and the bag back to their initial positions. The operator then removes his hand from the handle III and the spring I2! functions to return the handle III to its normal position, and upon movement of the rod I08 back to its normal position, the inclined face I516 contacts theyoke portion I26 and the latter moves along the inclined surface I06 until it rides off the top thereof and is forced downwardly into the postion shown in Figure 3 by the springs 88, and the portion IZIl of the connecting member H3 abuts the face I05 of the engaging member I04 so that the bag-shaking mechanism is in position for another cleaning opertaion. This bagshaking operation should be repeated a plurality of times to insure complete cleaning of the bag 44.

I claim:

1. In a suction cleaner, a casing, a filter in said casing, filter-supporting means, resilient means normally urging said filter-supporting means in one direction to maintain said filter in one position, filter-shaking means including movable engaging means, connecting means for connecting said filter-supporting means to said engaging means, said engaging means applying a force through said connecting means to collapse said filter in opposition to said resilient means, releasing means for releasing said connecting means from said engaging means after said filter is collapsed to permit said resilient means to return said filter to said one position, guide means forming part of said release means and having a slotted portion receiving said engaging means to guide the latter during its operation,

6 and actuating means for moving said engaging means and said releasing means with respect to each other.

2. In a suction cleaner, a casing, a filter in said casing, filter-supporting means, resilient means normally urging said filter-supporting means in one direction to maintain said filter in one position, filter-shaking means including engaging means, connecting means connecting said filtersupporting means to said engaging means, said engaging means applying a force through said connecting means to said filter to collapse said filter in opposition to said resilient means, releasing means for releasing said connecting means from said engaging means after said filter is collapsed to permit said resilient means to return said filter to said one position, stationary guide means extending between said engaging means and releasing means, said guide means having a surface upon which said connecting,

means is moved by said engaging means until disconnected by said releasing means, and actuating means for moving said engaging means with respect to said releasing means.

3. In a suction cleaner, a casing, a filter in said casing, filter-supporting means, resilient means normally urging said filter-supporting means in one direction to maintain said filter in one position, filter-shaking means including engaging means, connecting means connecting said filter-supporting means to said engaging means, said engaging means applying a force through said connecting means to said filter to collapse said filter in opposition to said resilient means, releasing means for releasing said connecting means from said engaging means after said filteris collapsed to permit said resilient means to return said filter to said one position, guide means between said engaging means and releasing means, said guide means having a surface upon which said connecting means move to said releasing means, means at all times urging said connecting means into engagement with said surface of said guide means, and actuating means for moving said engaging means with respect to said releasing means.

4. In a'suction cleaner, a casing, a filter in said casing, filter-supporting means, resilient means normally urging said filter-supporting means in one direction to maintain said filter in one position, filter-shaking means including engaging means, connecting means connecting said filter-supporting means to said engaging means, said engaging means applying a force through said connecting means to said filter to collapse said filter in opposition to said resilient means, releasing means for releasing said connecting means from said engaging means after said filter is collapsed to permit said resilient means to return said filter to said one position, stationary guide means between said engaging means and releasing means for guiding said connecting means to said releasing means, actuating means for moving said engaging means with respect to said releasing means. and means in said guide means for returning said actuating means to normal position.

5. In a suction cleaner, a casing, a filter in said casing, filter-supporting means movably mounted alongside said casing and projecting therefrom for connecting one end of said filter, resilient means normally urging said filter-supporting means in one direction to maintain said filter in one position, filter-shaking means including engaging means movable in a rectilinear path as-vane:

alongsidesaid casing, connecting means connecting said. filter-supporting; means to said engaging means, said engaging means during said rectilinear' movementv applying a force from alongside said casing through saidconnecting means to said one end of said filter to collapse saidfilter in opposition to said: resilient means, releasing meansaalongside said casing for releasing said connecting means fromsaid engaging means after said filter is collapsed to permit said resilient means to return said filter to said one position, guide means between said, engaging means and releasing means, said guide means having a surface. along which said connecting means move to saidreleasing means, and actuating means for moving said engaging means in said rectilinear path with respect to said releasing means;

6; In asuctioncleaner, a casing, a filter bag in said casing, bag supporting means movably mounting said filter bag on said casing, bag moving means displaceably mounted on said casing, connecting means spanning said bag for conneoting said, bag. supporting means to said bagmoving means and displaceable with the latter; disconnecting means mounted in stationary relation to said casing for engagement with said connecting means to release the latter from said bag. moving means, actuating means for displacing said connecting means and bag moving means to collapse saidi filter bag and shake the latter, and means .for returning said filter bag to a normal position.

'7. Ina suction cleaner of the tank type, a casing, a filter in said casing, a removable cover closing an open endv of said casing, said-open end-A. adapted to rest upon a supporting surface with said cover removed to position said filter in filter cleaning position, filter supporting means movably mounting said filter in said casing for movement withresp'ectto said open end of saidcasing filter moving means displaceably mounted on said casing and detachably connected with said filter supporting means, disconnecting means mounted instationary relation with said casingfor engagementwith said filter moving means to release the latter from said filter supporting means to permit-return of said filter to another position, actuating means for displacing said filter moving means to move said filter with respect' to said open end-of said casing to shake sa'id filter andremove dirt-therefrom for dispos ing ofthe dirt to said open end, and to shift said filter moving means into engagement with said disconnecting means to release said filter supporting means, and means for returningsaid filter to said another position with respect to said open end.

' LOUIS E. SEGESMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe file of th-is'--patent-z V UNITED"STATES PATENTS 

